A Rendez-Vous with Destiny

This week I’m following the exploits of JoAnn and Sue, two devoted mommies from New Jersey who have anxiously waited all year to hop aboard the Carnival Destiny for the “Rick Springfield & Friends” 4-tour.

In a matter of seconds they ripped open the curtains to their hotel room and spotted the sparkling white cruise ship docked at the Miami port.

“There it is!” they screamed like giddy children.

From then on the whirlwind never stopped. They launched into organizing their passports and luggage and met up in the lobby of the hotel to grab a taxi.

Carnival Destiny is a beast of a floating flotilla. It boasts nearly 500 balcony staterooms and suites, an outdoor seaside theatre, duty-free shopping, a basketball court and gigantic waterslide, a rich mahogany library room, a grand atrium, dozens of hot tubs and of course, lines of buffets.

After leapfrogging the longer lines thanks to VIP inspection, the girls officially crossed the gangway and made their way to their luxury cabin on the 7th floor. Like other devoted fans, they were busting at the seams when they caught a glimpse of Rick in the cafeteria.

Once the ship set sail the girls prepped for Rick’s first show in the main show lounge. I set up my camera and tripod on the second floor stage right. I had plenty of wiggle room to capture fans faces and the band. But where were JoAnn and Sue?

I finally spotted them perched high above the stage opposite me with an electric sign that read “Yeah!” What were they doing so far away?

Rick’s show was hilarious. The swaying back and forth of the bow of the ship tossed the singer off his feet every so often but he laughed at the absurdity of performing onboard a moving vessel. To avoid getting nauseous my producer Melanie encouraged me to dance during the taping. That was easy enough!

After the show I discovered the girls were at the mercy of pre-selected seats. But everyone rotates seats so by the end of the week they too will have a chance to take front row during one of Rick’s onboard shows. And, besides, Rick’s not going anywhere – he too has a cabin (only a few doors down from mine!) and is accessible to all who knock.

Sonja Stark

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